Almond blossoms and bees buzzing around collecting pollen _ these were the only things I was aware of this afternoon. Very peaceful and a time for reflection. I would venture to say that most people, outside this area, wouldn’t know the difference between the almond blossom, plum blossom or cherry blossom. Growing up in the area […]

Felt the need to deviate from “things Japan” for this post. The Farmer’s markets around Sacramento, CA here in California’s capital are many and so packed full of nearby farmers alongside early morning shoppers. So many of us have come by to meet friends, smell all the smells, have a cup of freshly brewed coffee […]

Gion is a traditional district stretching from the Kamo-gawa River in the west, as far as Yasaka-jinja Shrine in the east. In the 17th year of Kyoho (1732), Kyoto received official permission from the goverment to begin construction of the teahouse quarters, which is the present day Gion area. Later, as Kabuki drama became popular […]

This particular shade of blue can be found throughout Japan and is one of my favorites. The traditional color is used for dying kimono material as well as Noren curtains used in entrance ways to traditional businesses/restaurants and a denim type of material used for everything from pants to festival wear and cloth shoes (tabi) […]

Santa Monica is not known for the underside of the pier – but it is also very special. • Also buy this artwork on wall prints, apparel, stickers, and more. Source: “Under The Pier” Canvas Prints by Bryan W. Cole | Redbubble

AAfter attending a recent Japan Sake and Food Show here in California, one thing appears very clear and that is the increasing knowledge of Sake including their profile descriptions and food pairings. The line-up of Sake at most Japanese restaurants in the US is improving, and this includes covering a variety of prefectural regions where […]

I only recently started posting on Instagram. In the earlier days of this particular social media, it was used as an alternative portfolio or a way to keep your followers up to date on your day to day photo musings. But as Instagram has grown – recently announcing it had grown to 500 million users (June […]

The Buddhist monks in Japan are quite friendly and have always been willing to talk to me as well as pose for my camera. There are many styles and colors of Buddhist monks’ robes in Japan, and they don’t all resemble the ensembles worn by the monks in these photos, however, the robes in the […]

Have you tried a boba milk tea yet ? They seem to be everywhere in LA and if you head over to Koreatown or K-Town, these cafes are on every block, literally. I like the chewy boba pearls made from the root of a plant, which sit at the bottom of your cup. The […]

The Pie Hole’s mission is simple: happiness one slice at a time. The Pie Hole’s original location is on Traction Avenue in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. Their second location is in Pasadena on Colorado Blvd in the new ‘Indiana Colony’ artisans food and retail community. A great place to meet friends for pie and coffee […]